A Fresh Look At Home
Friday, March 15 – Friday, April 19
Opening Reception : Thursday, March 14th
Innovative, unique two and three-dimensional works of art for the home.
Artists: Chad Steig, Shannon Muse, Erica Epperson, David Rasmussen, Frank Mcguirk, Jill Scher, Jason Schneider
Chad Steig
Chad Steig grew up in Tennessee and has lived all over the United States. He never formally attended an art school, but he has always included art in every aspect of his schooling. School is where Steig learned to think for himself, express himself, stand up for himself, indulge himself and to weld. For him, these are the key elements that define art as one of the truly personal human pleasures. These are the things that speak to him in art. Spreading and feeding this feeling is what drives Steig daily. He strives to make art affordable and for the people. Quoting Steig: “Come entertain the notion that art really can change people’s lives. Come experience the idea that great art can be affordable. Should we not, as a vital local community, urge the strengthening of a potentially significant cultural artistic movement? I think so! I strive to make art for the people. I bask in the positivity of this creatively stimulating scene. I hope we all do what we can to encourage it!”
Shannon Muse and Leo Johnson
Paradise Art Glass is a working glass art studio owned by craftsman and designer Shannon Muse and assisted by glass artist and steel sculptor Leo Johnson. Their philosophy is to design and build quality and enduring glass art projects for individuals, public places and sacred spaces. Their skills embrace the traditional methods of stained glass as well as contemporary and innovative uses of glass in sculpture. Their work includes public art pieces, architectural garden screens,sculpture, lighting, and private commissions.
David Rasmussen
David Rasmussen is one of only a handful of designers who also handcrafts his elegant and detailed work. Concentrating mostly on furniture and architectural built-ins, David practices his craft in Carbondale, Colorado. Raised and educated in New England, David was exposed to the Northeast’s rich culture of fine furniture making from a young age. Trained by furniture masters Wayne Marcoux and Dan
Mosheim, David learned about composition and construction techniques. Always “driven by artistic design and aesthetic value,” David’s avant-garde approach to developing his style included constructing treehouses and handicap accessible projects around the United States. Currently, David is working with his highly trained craftsmen to produce elegant furniture for clients all over the world. David’s recent work focuses on what he thinks is relevant and thought provoking within the realm of modern design. David’s design is a response to modern aesthetics and resonates with iconic design.
Frank McGuirk
Frank McGuirk is a full time studio potter. He studied and worked as a potter in
the 1970s then went on to earn a PhD in psychology. In 2006, he realized a long held ambition by returning to ceramic work full-time. He makes and sells hundreds of utilitarian pots each year. Many of McGuirk’s recent works are in private and corporate collections. He also has shown in several Colorado galleries and in a variety shows and exhibitions. McGuirk’s ceramic pieces are both functional and architectural. Most of his work is wheel thrown with some hand building and a mix of surface treatments. He has developed an interest in the possibilities of interpreting three-dimensional forms of well-known architecture into ceramic forms. For example, the hauntingly beautiful organic buildings of Antoni Gaudi have inspired McGuirk for some time and he is currently attempting to interpret Gaudi’s shapes and the magical energy of Gaudi’s work into his ceramic forms.
Jill Scher
Fiber has been Scher’s artistic medium for over 40 years. She loves working with color and the relationship color has to mood and emotion. Scher draws greatinspiration from the natural world and looks to nature for both form and texture in her fiber work. The shifts and transitions that occur in natural evolution speak to her of the ever-present change in all life that we are part of as well as the beauty that exists around us. Scher used weaving as her medium of choice for many decades but now also creates felted work because it has dimensional aspects that offer great sculptural possibilities. She was a full time textile designer and textile arts teacher until 2 years ago, at which point she became a full time studio artist. Her studio is located at the Third Street Center in Carbondale, Colorado.
Jason Schnieder
www.jasonschneiderfurniture.com
Schneider creates three-dimensional objects with subtle hints that will make someone want to explore the work. In his current body of work the subtle feature is the unsophisticated material used – corrugated cardboard. At first glance the color of cardboard disguises itself as a solid wood material. Further investigation will display a rich undulating texture of stacked corrugated flutes. His exploration into the use and function of this low-status and commonly overlooked material is what drives him in his work. Creating furniture, sculpture and two-dimensional artwork with corrugated cardboard is an exciting challenge that often results in a surprisingly elegant, and sometimes whimsical, surface and form. Jason has an MFA and is currently the Studio Coordinator of the Furniture Design and Woodworking program at the Anderson Ranch Arts Center in Snowmass Village, CO.
Erica Epperson
Erica is a self-taught artist who grew up in the foothills of California, near
Sacramento. In the 1990′s she co-owned and operated Avalon Signs and Artwork
in Santa Cruz, CA. This custom sign shop offered signs made the old fashioned way,
with gold leaf, sand blasting and hand-painted craftsmanship. During this time
she created several murals for the local health food store, as well as many private
residences, schools and other businesses. She also received commissions to
paint portraits, create logos and websites, design and produce set painting for
theatre productions, and many other artistic services. She has worked with groups
of students to create murals in the schools and for two years hosted a figure
drawing class for the community in Avalon Signs’ workshop. Her fine art pieces have
been in galleries and shows in California, Oregon and Washington throughout the
last several years.
